The Brewer

Hygiene & Sanitation: Don't Ruin Your Beer

Hygiene & Sanitation: The 90% Rule

There is an old saying: “Brewing is 90% cleaning, and 10% waiting.” You can have the best recipe and the most expensive equipment, but if your sanitation is bad, you will make vinegar.

1. Cleaning vs. Sanitizing

These are NOT the same thing. You cannot sanitize a dirty surface.

Step 1: Cleaning

  • Goal: Remove organic matter (sugar, proteins, hop gunk).
  • The Chemical: PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) or OxiClean (fragrance-free).
  • The Process: Scrub with hot water and PBW. Rinse thoroughly. If you can see dirt, it is not clean.

Step 2: Sanitizing

  • Goal: Kill bacteria and wild yeast on the clean surface.
  • The Chemical: Star San (Phosphoric acid based).
  • The Process:
    1. Mix Star San with water (1 oz per 5 gallons).
    2. Soak or spray the equipment.
    3. Contact Time: It needs wet contact for at least 60 seconds.
    4. Don’t Fear the Foam: Star San foams a lot. DO NOT rinse it off. The foam is safe for yeast and actually acts as a nutrient.

2. Common Infection Vectors

Where do the bad bugs come from?

  1. Valves: Ball valves are notorious for trapping gunk inside. Take them apart regularly.
  2. Plastic Scratches: Don’t use a harsh scrubbing pad on your plastic bucket. Bacteria live in microscopic scratches where sanitizer can’t reach.
  3. Cold Side: Anything that touches the wort after the boil must be sanitized. Scissors, thermometer, hydrometer, your hands.

3. Is My Beer Infected?

  • The Pellicle: A thin, white, dusty film or bubbles on top of the beer (looks like a spider web). This is wild yeast or bacteria.
  • The Smell: Vinegar, vomit, wet socks, or barnyard.
  • The Gushers: If your bottles explode or foam over instantly when opened, it means a wild infection kept eating sugars the yeast couldn’t.

4. Can I Save It?

  • Maybe: If it tastes sour but pleasant, congratulations, you made a Sour Ale! Drink it quickly.
  • No: If it smells like vomit (butyric acid) or band-aids (phenolic), pour it down the drain. You cannot fix it.
  • The Nuclear Option: If a plastic fermenter gets infected, throw it away. It is almost impossible to get 100% of the bacteria out of plastic. Buy a new bucket for $15. It’s cheaper than ruining another batch.

Conclusion

Sanitation is not exciting, but it is the foundation of quality. Develop a routine. Keep a spray bottle of Star San nearby at all times. When in doubt, sanitize it again.